Critter News

JANUARY 26, 2009

First wolves, then polar bears, now beluga whales. At issue is the population of {the Cook Inlet beluga) whales, which were put under the protections of the Marine Mammal Protection Act eight years ago, which scientists argue hasn't sped their recovery: Palin begs to differ.

Whales 100

Whales Whaling Polar Bears Alaska 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2015

The park was created as much to protect the local communities from marauding elephants with a hatred of dangerous humans and a lack of interest in the differences between nations as it was to protect the elephants. The park did have a pack of African Wild Dogs, or Painted Wolves, the species I had gone to Africa to see.

South Africa 144

South Africa Elephants Africa Lions 144

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2013

But, from the existing data, the authors have drawn a different conclusion – there is no proof that the breeding population ever existed, that the south of Africa was beyond the species range and that that all observations were of vagrant individuals. During my lifetime, this species was rare in my native Serbia, too.

Sudan 217

Sudan Macedonia Botswana Serbia 217

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2017

I saw Painted Wolves again, my favourite species ever. The Orange-fronted Parakeet is a critically endangered species that I came agonisingly close to seeing but didn’t. Singapore is a densely populated city-state which still manages to protect a number of species. I went to Ethiopia. I bought a house.

United Arab Emirates 100

United Arab Emirates Ethiopia 2016 New Zealand 100

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 31, 2011

It is only the prejudice of our species that justifies culling the deer population while protecting our own. Who wiped out the wolves and mountain lions? But whether with a flintlock or a modern rifle, hunting cruelly takes the life of a living, sentient being that has as much right to live as any hunter or writer. 26, 2011

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Mountain Lions Deer 40

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

She doesn’t know the species till it emerges, almost dreamlike, from the heavy glare of the sun. Fox encounters 69 species, some singly, some in huge feeding or migrating flocks. She’s described conservation successes in detail–the Bald Eagle, the Short-tailed Albatross, now protected in Japan.

Fox 100

Fox Albatross Geese Bald Eagle 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2014

Furthermore, the total population in Hemis National Park is estimated at 50-60 individuals, making the park an important genetic reservoir for this species which is classified on the IUCN’s Red Data List as Endangered. The huge Argali, another species of wild sheep, also occur here. Wolves can be encountered anywhere in the park.

Snow Leopard 279

Snow Leopard Leopards Hunting Sheep 279

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 24, 2009

How far do we go in protecting them? Cows, domestic sheep, chickens and many others would not survive if they were not raised for human consumption, protected from malnutrition, disease and predators. Wolves eat sheep. It is hard to imagine where a line can be drawn. Second, our food animals have co-evolved with us.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York Vegan Vegetarian 40